Method of joining plates or the like



T. J. SHEA. METHOD OF JOINING PLATES OR THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED m. s, 1921.

1,401,448. Patented Dec. 27,1921.

Far-J. FIE-.2.

7 I l 7 Y 7 Z 7 UNITED TATES PATENT [O I E j rirom J. SHEA, or ron'rnm, I onmon.

un'rnon or Jomnm PLATES on THE LIKE ing plates or the ed es thereofby means of electric welding, an it is. particularly ,ap-

ormation ofwelded seams in plicable to the v I tanks, ships, barges, pipes and other metal products, the operation being suchithat the welding tool is applied to bothsid'es' of the seam at the same side of the platesorstock to be welded, whereby it will not ln'ecessary to appl electric toolsorftei'minalsj'to opposite si es of the plates," as with a lapped seam or the like. This result is efiected by upsetting flanges in the same direction at the meeting edges of the plates, and then butting the outer sides of these flanges, and then applying the welding tool with its terminals at opposite sides ofthe rib or seam thus formed. I also preferably apply pressure to the seam during the welding operation, for swaging or smoothing it down, the pressure being applied to the edge of the seam between the electrodes, and to assist in making a small seam the edges of the flanges are beveled either on the outside or on the inside, to reduce the metal and to assist in making a good joint. The advantages of applying the tool to only one side of the structure will be apparent in pipe work, where it is impossible to get at the seam from the inside, and

' also in ship and tank work where it is inconvenient to do so, or requires two men to locate the welding tools.

Several forms of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. ure 1 is a section of two plates with the edges upset and butted. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the edges beveled off at the outer side. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the edges drawn down or beveled on the inner or meeting sides. Fig. 4. is a view showing the formation of one of the flanges shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view showing the welding tool applied to the seam shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section of a longitudinal pipe seam with beveled flanges. Fig. 7 is a section of the same seam, finished. Fig. 8 is a view of the "Specification of Letters Patent} q Pa tented lj 27 1921 lpplieation, nleare r 5,1921. seri l 11 442,751. I

welding tool applied to the seam shown in F1 Fi 9 is a detail in section of a circu ar'or en pipe seam. 1 v

' In one form of the invention, theedges of form'flanges 7, and these flanges arebutted at th'eiroutersides to form what I term a flanged 'butt seam or joint. As shown in Fig. Qthdouteredgesofthe flanges 7 may of the flanges, after-being upset-are beveled ofi'as shown at 9, thereby forming a relaconsiderably,

tively sharp ed'ge'and reducing the metal The flanges"thus"formed in one 0'1 the other of the ways indicated are thenbutted, and a welding tool is applied, said tool being indicated as a' 'wholeat 10 .having electrodes or terminals 11 which engage in or about the corners vi the flanges, or at opposite sides thereof, and by the passage of an electric current the flanges between the terminals are welded together, the tool being moved along the seam to make a continuous seam, or spotted along as in spot welding. This action is materially assisted by simultaneously applying pressure to the outer edges of the flanges, as by means of a wheel 12 carried by a welding tool and forced down against the seam with suflicient ressure to spread or swage the fluid metal uring the welding operation, and an anvil or block 13 may be placed under or behind the seam if necessary. Thereby the seam can be pressed down to a small rib, as shown at 14 in Fig. 7. This is particularly desirable for pipe work. Or, the seam can be left standing as in Fig. 5.

By the means described a continuous welded seam can be produced much quicker and easier than with lapped seams requiring operations both inside and outside, and with some saving of metal, since the flanges need only be upset or drawn wide enough to allow for the application of electrodes to opposite sides of the standing flanges.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact forms disclosed, and it may be practised in various modifications thereof.

I claim:

. l. The method of joining plates, compris ing upsetting the edges thereof to form marginal flanges, abutting said flanges, and

the plates 6 ;are upset on the same side to a "be beveled off as shown at 8. i In the formsv shown 1n Figs. 3, 4rand 6, the meeting faces electrically welding the flanges between a' pair of electrodes, bothof which are applied to the flanges on the same side of the plates.

2. The method of joining plates lying in substantially the same plane, comprising upsetting the edges thereof to form angular flanges, abutting said'flanges, and passing an electric welding current through said flanges between a pair of electrodes both of which are applied to the flanges on the same side of the plates. 4

3. The method of joining plates, comprising upsetting the edges thereof to form marginal flanges, abutting said flanges, and electrically welding the flanges between a pair of electrodes both of which are applied to the flanges on the same side of the plates, and applying pressure to the edges of the flanges during the welding operation.

4. The method of joining plates, comprising upsetting the edges thereof to form flanges, beveling the edges of the flanges, abutting the flanges of the respective plates,

and electrically welding the flanges between in presence of two witnesses.

a pair of electrodes both of which are applied to the flanges on the same side of the plates.

5. The method of joining plates, comprising upsetting the edges thereof to form pair of electrodes both of which are applied to the flanges on the same side of the plates.

7. The method of joining plate edges, comprising upsetting flanges at the edges, beveling the outer faces of said flanges, abutting the beveled faces of the flanges, electrically welding the flanges between a pair of electrodes both of which are applied to the flanges on the same sideof the plates and applying pressure to the outer edges of the flanges during the welding operation.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature THOMAS J. SHEA. Witnesses:

F. E. THOMPSON, GLENDORA S. THOMPSON. 

